Late Race Dramatics Mark Red Cedar Speedway Opener

By Ed Reichert

Menomonie WI, April 17 - Jake Redetzke, Kevin Adams and Andy Jones all made late race passes for feature wins while Shane Kisling's route to victory lane was slightly easier as the Red Cedar Speedway marked their thirty sixth consecutive opener in front of a big crowd on a beautiful Friday night.

Redetzke earned the first feature win of his four year Late Model career at Red Cedar while Chad Mahder was the unfortunate victim of a flat tire that slowed his progress after having led the opening twelve laps of the event.

John Kaanta was the initial leader of the race after starting on the pole position but he was pressured by Mahder and Kerry Hanson before Mahder found a fast line on the high side and swept past Kaanta to take over the top spot. Cory Mahder and Redetzke were both on the move at this time as they worked their way into contention. Jimmy Mars was also charging toward the front after starting ninth on the grid.

Chad Mahder continued to hold a comfortable lead as his cousin Cory moved into second when Mars lost control after clipping a ridge and spun into the infield, triggering a yellow. On the green, Cory attempted to move inside Chad in turn one which opened up the top side to Redetzke, but Cory fell victim to the same ridge and lost control in turn three, spinning up the track and nearly being clipped by the field.

Cory joined Mars in the infield for the restart, but before the green could be displayed it was apparent that Chad Mahder had a left front tire going down. He fought as hard as possible, but after a couple of laps his car started to push in the corners and Redetzke was able to sweep past him for the lead. Once in front, Jake motored away from the field in the final few laps to take the win. Chad Mahder did a great job holding off Kaanta for second with Mike Prochnow and rookie Jake Hartung rounding out the top five.

The Modified feature provided a spectacular finish with defending WISSOTA national champion Kevin Adams tracking down multiple time former champion Craig Thatcher in the final two laps for a thrilling win. Thatcher started on the pole and led the early going through a series of yellow flags for various spins. Adams started eighth on the grid and had to do some heavy battling to work his way to the front.

As Thatcher ran alone up front, Adams battled with Dave Cain, Scott Duval and Duane Dale before he finally secured the runner up slot. He then set out after Thatcher and it was clear that he was reeling in Thatcher, but whether or not he could pull off a pass on the wily Thatcher remained to be seen.

Adams found a line around the track that gave him great speed off the corners and with two laps to go, he made a strong drive off turn two and was able to drop to the inside of Thatcher. They raced side by side down the back chute but Adams was able to beat Craig into turn three to take over the top spot. He maintained his margin the final two trips around the oval, and with his fist pumping into the night sky, took the checkered flag as the winner. Cain made a strong charge in the late going to take third while Brent Prochnow also made a late charge to take fourth ahead of Dale.

Continuing the theme of the night, young Andy Jones also made a late race charge on a two lap sprint to the checkered to take his first ever win here. Jim Bourn earned the pole position and spent most of the race fighting off challenges from various drivers. As Bourn continued to hold the point, Ronnie Rihn, Mark Gerth, Jones and Mike Anderson all took turns battling for the lead. Both Anderson and Gerth looked like they were going to take over the lead at various times, but Bourn continued to show strength as he fought off all contenders.

Nearing the end of the event, Rob Weber pounded the wall in turn four which set up a two lap sprint to the finish. Bourn took off strongly but Jones moved to the extreme top side of the oval and was able to squeeze up beside Bourn. They took the white flag side by side but Jones was the stronger as he was able to drive hard into the corner and edge past Bourn. Jim tried to fight back on the last turn, but Andy pulled out to a car length lead at the checkered. Rihn finished a strong third with Anderson and Gerth completing the top five.

Kisling, who will be making a strong run at the national points chase, got his second year of Super Stock racing off to a strong start with his first ever win at Red Cedar as he held off Jason Forehand for the win. Steve Thomas and Forehand battled in the early going with Thomas moving to the point. Kisling started in the second row and he quickly zeroed in on the leaders, sweeping past both Forehand and then on the high side to take over the lead.

A grinding crash on lap five eliminated Joe Rhead, Art Hyde and Rick Hallquist but when racing resumed, Kisling pulled away from the pack as Shawn Huse and Paul Erikson moved into contention. Huse was putting the pressure on Forehand for second when Tommy Richards rolled to a halt which set up a sprint to the finish.

Forehand tried to put the pressure on Kisling on the green, but Shawn held tough and extended his margin to take the checkered. Forehand held off Huse for second with Erikson and Thomas next in line.

The Pure Stock feature fell victim to the track curfew but the Pures will run double feature races next Friday, April twenty fourth, on Sailers Meat Market of Elmwood night at the speedway. Race time is 7 p.m.

SUMMARY

Red Cedar Speedway

Menomonie WI

April 17, 2009

WISSOTA Late Models  

20 lap Feature - Jake Redetzke, Eau Claire; Chad Mahder, Marshfield; John Kaanta, Elk Mound; Mike Prochnow, Menomonie; Jake Hartung, Elmwood; Kerry Hanson, Baldwin; Ashley Anderson, Elk Mound; Chris Oertel, Marshfield; Jeff Provinzino, Hibbing Mn; Craig Schueffner, Sheboygan Falls; Kyle Peterlin, Hibbing Mn; Scott Gilberts, Menomonie; Davin Larson, Trego; Cory Mahder, Elk Mound; Jimmy Mars, Menomonie; Jesse Redetzke, Altoona; Ronnie Rihn, Bloomer.

8 lap Heat 1 - Mars; Ch. Mahder; C. Mahder; Peterlin; Je. Redetzke; Larson.

Heat 2 - Hanson; J. Redetzke; Kaanta; Rihn; Hartung; Schueffner.

Heat 3 - Prochnow; Provinzino; Gilberts; Oertel; Anderson.

WISSOTA Modifieds 

15 lap Feature - Kevin Adams, Cameron; Craig Thatcher, Knapp; Dave Cain, Corcoran Mn; Brent Prochnow, Colfax; Duane Dale, Aurora Mn; Scott Duval, Bloomer; Paul Niznik, Medford; Scott Hudack, Ashland; Cory Crapser, Eau Claire; Mark Hessler, Menomonie; Mike Anderson, Colfax; Keith Tourville, Star Prairie; Jay Richardson, Spring Valley; Jeff Provinzino, Hibbing Mn; Bryan Nayes, Chippewa Falls; Joey Jensen, Forest Lake Mn; Steve Lavasseur, River Falls.

8 lap Heat 1 - Cain; Adams; Dale; Jensen; Crapser; Tourville; Lavasseur.

Heat 2 - Anderson; Nayes; Niznik; Prochnow; Hudack; Provinzino.

Heat 3 - Duval; Thatcher; Richardson; M. Hessler; Steve Hallquist; Bryan Hessler.

WISSOTA Super Stocks 

15 lap Feature - Shane Kisling, Sarona; Jason Forehand, Eau Claire; Shawn Huse, Bloomer; Paul Erikson, Abbotsford; Steve Thomas, Menomonie; Bernie Christianson, Menomonie; Aaron Wilson, Menomonie; Mike Keller, Menomonie; Ben Hillman, Menomonie; Ken Truscott, Greenland Mi; Eric Olson, Ladysmith; Darrel Hazelton, Chippewa Falls; Ajay Christianson, Menomonie; Donnie Talmage, Amery; Lance Schilling, Chili; Rick Hallquist, Eau Claire; Tommy Richards, Mondovi; Art Hyde, Washburn; Joe Rhead, Menomonie.

8 lap Heat 1 - Kisling; Thomas; Truscott; Hyde; Hallquist; A. Christianson; Terry Kroening.

Heat 2 - Christianson; Forehand; Olson; Hazelton; Richards; Talmage; Schilling.

Heat 3 - Erikson; Keller; Huse; Hillman; Wilson; Rhead.

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds 

15 lap Feature - Andy Jones, Princeton Mn; Jim Bourn, Menomonie; Ronnie Rihn, Bloomer; Mike Anderson, Colfax; Mark Gerth, Menomonie; Kyle Jumbeck, Houston Mn; Kevin Smeltzer, Menomonie; Randy Smeltzer, Colfax; Mike Truscott, Chippewa Falls; Mark Thomas, Menomonie; Shane Halopka, Eau Claire; Brad Hudson, Chippewa Falls; Scott Erickson, Barron; Justin Supri, Eau Claire; Jesse Glenz, Cadott; Rob Weber, Ashland; Ryan Viltz, Cameron; Dustin Scott, Rosemount Mn; George Dalbeck, Wakefield Mi; Jason Zdroik, Eagle River.

12 lap B Feature - Zdroik; Weber; Supri; Glenz; Grant Southworth; Frank Soucek; Pat Cook; Kevin Knudtson; Wayne Bignell; Scott Bintz; Robbie Johnson; Barry Johnson; Jason Swan.

8 lap Heat 1 - Bourn; Erickson; K. Smeltzer; R. Smeltzer; Zdroik; Swan; Southworth; B. Johnson.

Heat 2 - Gerth; Halopka; Thomas; Viltz; Weber; Bintz; Bignell; Soucek.

Heat 3 - Anderson; Rihn; Dalbeck; Scott; R. Johnson; Cook; Knudtson.

Heat 4 - Truscott; Jones; Junbeck; Hudson; Supri; Glenz; Derek Borchardt.

Pure Stock

10 lap Feature - postponed to April 24^th

6 lap Heat 1 - Ron Hoffman; Tony Falkner; Eric Burton; Josh Bach; Rob Lawrence; Chris Wert; Ashley Husby.